SAN JOSE, Calif., April 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Once the last official documents have been signed and the keys are in hand, new homeowners have many questions about how to protect their finances and keep their new home in order. That's why Housing Trust Silicon Valley (HTSV) is presenting the free "Homeowners Mini Boot Camp" on April 19 at the Willow Glen Community Center located at 2175 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in conjunction with SurePath Financial Solutions and Hassett Ace Hardware.

The three-hour session is free to new homeowners in Santa Clara County, though seating is limited. To RSVP, email: jeanette@housingtrustsv.org

"Becoming a homeowner is one of the most important days in a person's life, and there are a lot of questions that come with that," said Kevin Zwick, CEO of HTSV. "We want residents of Santa Clara County to know that we are a resource for them in all stages of the process, from helping them with a first-time homebuyer's loan to providing answers to finance questions after they move in. The Housing Trust is focused on creating strong neighborhoods with a sense of community, and it's events like these that help achieve that."

HTSV will specifically be on hand to discuss questions related to mortgage payments, property taxes and homeowners' insurance, and will also talk about getting to know the neighborhood and becoming involved in the community through neighborhood watch and other programs.

"We are really excited to continue with our partnership with Housing Trust Silicon Valley with this post-purchase class," said Maria Enomoto, Certified Credit Counselor for SurePath. "The material prepared for the class was done with the intention of helping new homeowners maintain the financial capability they have already achieved. SurePath is committed to financial counseling services that provide financial literacy and tools to our community that help contribute to the achievement of financial goals."

In addition to financial information, the session will also include answers to common household repair questions presented by Hassett Ace Hardware, which has neighborhood locations in Willow Glen, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, Palo Alto and Redwood City. All attendees will receive Hassett Ace gift cards.

"We provide free demos of how to install a home smoke detector and how to do a simple repair and replacement of washers for your lavatory faucet because these typically perplex people," said Paul Vezinaw, department manager at the Willow Glen Hassett Ace Hardware store. "We try to show people that these aren't hard repairs, but also that we offer the tools and the free knowledge right in the community. We are your local neighborhood store and are here as a resource."

Housing Trust Silicon Valley (HTSV) is among the largest housing trusts in the nation financing housing and assisting first-time homebuyers. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), HTSV is nationally recognized for providing the resources and leadership needed to make housing more affordable for those who want to live in Silicon Valley. Since 2001, HTSV has invested more than $75 million and leveraged more than $1.88 billion to create more than 9,953 housing opportunities. Of those served, 83% had household incomes below 80% of the Area Medium Income (AMI).